Nutcracker.



J. KITTRELL.

NUTCRAO KEB. APPLICATION FILEIY IAN- 4. I915.

PatenwdSept; 14, 1915.

NU'ICRAGKER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN KITTRELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Durant, in the county of Bryan and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nutcrackers; and I do declare the followin to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. y

This invention relates to improvements in nut crackersof the class which are designed to be clamped to a supporting ledge or table. The object of the invention is to provide a simply constructed strong and easily operated device of this character which is especially designed for cracking pecans without breaking the kernels, thus permitting them to be removed whole.

With this and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a side elevation of this improved nut cracker applied with the removable jaw shown in open position in full lines ready to receive a nut and in closed position in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a rear edge view thereof; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and,'Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on the line H of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment illustrated a supporting standard 1 is shown having support engaging means at its lower end herein shown in the form of vertically spaced alined jaws 2 and 3 which are designed to receive between them a table T or other suitable support and which are held in clamped engagement therewith by means of a thumb screw 4 herein shown provided at its inner end with a disk like table engaging member 5. An arm 6 extends laterally forward from the upper end of the standard 1 and is provided with a depending shank 7 which is oflset laterally therefrom as shown at 8 for a purpose to be described. This shank 7 is provided at its lower free end with a nut engaging jaw herein shown in the form of a cone shaped socket 9 which opens laterally inward toward the standard 1 in a plane at right angles to the longitudinal axis of said shank and which is designed to receive one end of a nut to be cracked.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. ii, 1915.

Application filed an r 4, 1915. Serial 1%. 404.

A movable jaw 10 is-mounted; to swing laterally on the standard 1 toward and away from the fixed jaw 9 and is herein shown in the form of a cone-shaped socket 11 having a shank 12 extending at right angles therefrom and pivotally connectedv at its free end with the standard 1 at the top thereof on one side face of said standard w ereby the nut receiving socket 13 thereof is disposed opposite to and in alinement with the socket of the rigid jaw, the offset oft-he shank of said rigid jaw being designed to position it to aline with the movable jaw as is shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 4.

A coiled expansion spring 14 connects the shanks 7 and 12 and exerts its tension to force the movable jaw normally away from the fixed jaw and it also is designed as a cushioning means between the jaws whereby a soft uniform pressure is exerted on the nut to be cracked when the movable jaw is forced forward toward the fixed jaw by means hereinafter to be groove 15 is formed in the rear edge of the shank 12 of the movable jaw and is designed to receive a rib 16 formed on the pe-' rlphery of a disk like cam 17 which is pivv otally mounted on the standard 1 on the same face which carries the movable jaw and in position to engage the shank of said jaw at all times to provide for the actuation thereof on the turning of the cam which is accomplished by means of a handle 18 extending radially therefrom, said interlocking rib and groove holding said cam and jaw against lateral movement and also insuring the engagement of these members at all times.

The table engaging jaws, the standard 1, its arms 6 and 7 and the fixed jaw 9 are preferably cast in a single piece as shown, but they may be made separately if desired.

In the use of this invention the standard 1 is mounted on any suitable shelf or support by inserting said support between the jaws 2 and 3 thereof and clamping it thereon by means of the thumb screw 4. When so clamped the standard 1 is held in upright position with the parts mounted thereon ready for use, the movable jaw 11 being heldnormally spaced from the fixed jaw ready to receive a pecan or other nut to be cracked. The nut to be cracked is placed in the sockets of the two jaws and the handle 18 is then turned downwardly into the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 whereby the cam 17 described. A

is rotated to bring its wider or eccentric portion into engagement with the shank 12 of the movable jaw thereby forcing said jaw forwardly toward the fixed jaw in a gradual manner, the spring 14 exerting a cushioning effect on the movement of said jaw and preventing the nut from being violently crushed. This movement of the -movable jaw will thus crack the shell of the nut in a gradual and-uniform manner without breaking the kernel and permit the shell to be removed, leaving the kernel intact. When the handle 18 is released the expansion of the spring 14 will force the jaw 11 rearwardly away from the fixed jaw and thus restore the parts to normal position ready to receive another nut.

I claim as my invention:

1. A nut cracker comprising a supporting standard having support engaging means at one end, a depending fixed aw at the opposite end, a movable jaw having a shank extending at a right angle to the axis of the nut engaging face thereof and pivotally mounted on said standard, said shank having a groove formed in one of its edges, an expansion spring disposed between said fixed jaw and movable jaw, an eccentric closing member for said movable jaw, and a against lateral movement.

2. A nut cracker comprising a supporting standard having support engaging means at one end, a laterally extending arm integrally formed with the opposite end, a laterally offset depending fixed jaw member formed at the free end of said arm, a movable jaw member having a shank extending at a right angle to the axis of the nut engaging face thereof, pivotally mountedon said standard to swing toward and away from said fixed jaw member in the plane of the offset portion of said jaw member, said shank having a groove formed in one of its edges, a closing member for said movable jaw member, a handle on one end and an eccentric on the opposite end thereof, said eccentric being pivotally mounted on said standard, an expansion spring disposed between the offset portion of the fixed jaw member and the movable jaw member, whereby the movable jaw is maintained in contact with-said eccentric, and a rib on said eccentric-for coaction with the groove in the movable jaw member, whereby said movable jaw is held against lateral movement.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN KITTRELL. Witnesses:

C. J. FLOYD, VICTOR C. PHILLIPS. 

